The verdict in three sentences
A market SIS (student information system) starts with low monthly fees but stays rigid on tuition fees and local mobile payment. Custom development at 12,000,000-32,000,000 FCFA (about 18,300-48,800 EUR) embeds online admissions, grades, a parent/student portal and fee payment via mobile money. The real gain: -40 to -70 % of admin time on admissions and cash collected faster.
Market SIS vs custom development
Standard SIS platforms are built for Anglo-Saxon systems and handle mobile payment and staggered fees poorly. Custom fits your fee regulations. 2026 order of magnitude:
| Criterion | Market SIS | Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 3,000,000-8,000,000 FCFA (setup) | 12,000,000-32,000,000 FCFA |
| Recurring cost | 150,000-500,000 FCFA/month | 400,000-1,200,000 FCFA/month |
| Time to deploy | 2-3 months | 5-9 months |
| Mobile money payment | Rare or add-on | Native |
| Staggered fees | Rigid | Custom |
| Parent/student portal | Standard | Tailored to your college |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
For a college of 1,500 students, an SIS at 350,000 FCFA/month costs 4,200,000 FCFA/year. Custom at 22,000,000 FCFA amortised over 4 years (5,500,000 FCFA/year + ~9,600,000 FCFA annual maintenance) costs more, but owns the code and collects fees far faster.
What tips the decision
Functions tied to cash and admin time lean towards custom:
| Function | 2026 impact | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Online fee payment | Collection -20 to -45 days | Custom |
| Online admissions | -40 to -70 % admin time | Custom |
| Automated arrears chasing | -3 to -8 pts arrears | Custom |
| Report cards and grades | Reliable standard | SIS is enough |
| Parent portal | Satisfaction +15-25 pts | Custom |
| Management reporting | Faster decisions | Custom |
For a college billing 2.4 billion FCFA of annual fees, cutting arrears by 5 points means 120,000,000 FCFA collected earlier. That figure, more than admin time, easily funds the project.
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Mini case study
Mr Rahman, managing director of a private college in Dubai (1,500 students, 2.4 billion FCFA equivalent in annual fees, 12 % arrears), pays 350,000 FCFA/month for an imported SIS with no mobile payment. A custom project at 22,000,000 FCFA, amortised over 4 years (5,500,000 FCFA/year + 9,600,000 FCFA maintenance = 15,100,000 FCFA/year), must beat 4,200,000 FCFA of licences. The 10,900,000 FCFA gap disappears once arrears drop 1 point (24,000,000 FCFA). With an expected -5 real points (120,000,000 FCFA) and 3 secretaries freed from data entry, net first-year ROI exceeds 100,000,000 FCFA. Custom clearly wins.
FAQ
How much does custom college software cost? Between 12,000,000 and 32,000,000 FCFA (about 18,300-48,800 EUR) depending on scope (admissions, grades, portal, payment), plus 400,000-1,200,000 FCFA/month maintenance. Timeline: 5 to 9 months.
Can fees be collected via mobile money? Yes, that is the central argument: native mobile payment cuts collection time by 20 to 45 days and arrears by several points.
Isn't a market SIS enough? For grades and report cards, often yes. But imported SIS handle mobile payment and local staggered fees poorly, hence custom.
How much admin time is saved? Online admissions and automated entry save 40 to 70 % of admin time during enrolment peaks.
How fast does it pay off? For a college billing over 2 billion FCFA, the return is usually under 12 months thanks to collection.
Let's scope your project. Share your student count, annual fee volume, arrears rate and indicative budget: we cost SIS vs custom with a collection ROI. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
